Exclusive: Watch The Who Perform 'Sea and Sand' in London

From their upcoming concert film

"I wanted to take people inside The Who," Roger Daltrey tells me when we catch up to discuss the upcoming release of the band's concert film Quadrophenia: Live in London, out tomorrow on Blu-ray. "The Who now is Pete [Townshend] and me, working together. I hate the way modern concerts are filmed. I don't know anyone who runs across a hall at 35 miles per hour while they're looking at the stage, and that's how everything seems to be filmed these days. I want to watch an artist work. I want to watch their eyes. I want to watch their performance. So that's what I set out to do with this project and I think we've accomplished that."

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Filmed last July in London, Quadrophenia: Live in London is indeed as intimate as arena rock can get. It shows The Who in top form, performing the band's classic 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia in its entirety, plus a special set of some of their all-time greatest hits. But it focuses especially on the interplay on the last surviving members of the legendary band, Daltrey and guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend.

Watch this exclusive clip of The Who playing the classic "Sea and Sand" from their upcoming release Quadrophenia: Live in London:

"Directors these days seem to want to try to be part of the performance," Daltrey explains. "If the music is working you don't need that, and they can't really be a part of it anyway."

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Like the films of Cream's 2005 reunion shows, or the spectacular George Harrison tribute show, Concert for George, released in 2003, Quadrophenia: Live in London practically puts you on the stage.

"That's what I like," Daltrey goes on. "When Pete is playing the guitar I wanted it to show him playing the guitar, as intimately as possible. Or when I'm singing, I wanted it to show me singing so that it felt like you were there watching me and I was performing for you."

Quadrophenia: Live in London captures The Who in front of a hometown crowd, featuring blistering versions of "The Real Me," "The Punk and the Godfather," "Doctor Jimmy," and a potent performance of "Love Reign o'er Me." With HD screen backdrops to help get across Quardophenia's narrative, plus archival footage that reunites The Who with bandmates John Entwistle on "5:15" and Keith Moon for his signature song "Bell Boy," the film will be exciting for both longtime fans of the band and those just discovering its amazing catalog.

The Who also tear through classic tracks like "Pinball Wizard," "Who Are You," "You Better You Bet," "Baba O'Riley," and "Won't Get Fooled Again," and there is a spectacular version of "Tea & Theatre," from the 2006 release Endless Wire featuring Daltrey and Townshend alone that is simply show-stopping.

As for what's next, Daltrey, who's just come off a hugely successful pairing with Dr. Feelgood's Wilko Johnson, would love to get in the studio again, whether it be to thrash though some R&B-tinged rockers or more meditative Townshend classics-in-waiting.

"Working with Wilko and his band was really exciting," Daltrey says. "It was a great feeling to just bash it out, like the old days. So I'd love to do that with The Who. But Pete works differently and if he comes up with something he feels strongly about I'm sure we'll do something with it.

"But we're going to tour beginning later this year," Daltrey goes on. "It will be part of the long goodbye, so to speak. I want to go on playing as long as it sounds great, and it really still does. I want to come up with something really special for it, and what I'd really like to do is go on playing everything we've ever done, throughout our career. The whole lot. But really I'm just looking forward to getting back out there. It's what I feel I was born to do."

In addition to the Blu-ray format, Quadrophenia: Live in London will be out June 10 on CD/digital as well as a deluxe version that includes spectacular 5.1 and high resolution versions of the original Quadrophenia LP.

You can watch me talk more with Roger Daltrey about The Who's new concert film, what's next for the band, his excellent album with Wilko Johnson, and his support for Teen Cancer Americahere.

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